Colouring in the Orange Basslet differs between males and females. In Australia the species is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef, south to the central coast of New South Wales.

Standard Common Name

Orange Basslet

Alternative Name/s

Orange Fairy Basslet, Orange Seaperch, Scalefin Anthias

Identification

Colouring in the Orange Basslet differs according to sex of an individual. Females are orange to yellow with pale purple scale margins, while males are purplish with a yellow spot on the body scales and a large purplish blotch on the pectoral fin. Both sexes have an orange stripe across the cheek. The male also has a greatly elongated third dorsal fin spine and a lunatecaudal fin with longer lobes than the female.The Orange Basslet is characterised by sexual dimorphism. One of the common names, Scalefin Anthias, refers to the heavily scaled fins.

Size range

The species grows to 15 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef, south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.